Tokyo Dawn Labs has several freebie versions that are quite handy... Whether they'd be considered "mastering plugins" would depend on if you're using them for mastering.
Tokyo Dawn Labs has several freebie versions that are quite handy... Whether they'd be considered "mastering plugins" would depend on if you're using them for mastering.
I think it's the "Kotelnikov" that's made for mastering. Seems pretty good to me, though I have a fraction of the experience using them that you do. But a switch for both RMS and Peak levels, super long A/R times, and knee options, not to mention default of 80hz for sidechain, points towards mastering use.
Been trying to figure out for decades where that whole thing started - about MBC's being the "mastering engineer's secret weapon" or however they've pushed them over the years.
It was the TC Finaliser that started the rot - instant mastering in a box was its main selling point. Very occasionally MBC can get you out of a hole but I'll only use one or two bands at a time.
I'd certainly agree with your point about monitoring - that's one of the most vital tools for a mastering engineer and one that non mastering engineers always overlook.